Dispenser handle mechanism



March 14, 1950 c. c. BAUERLEJN 2,599,397

DISPENSER HANDLE MECHANISM Filed June 20, 1945 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .ZZEYZEZIZ UP [212/ 5'. BELIEF/ 222 March 14, 1950 c, c. BAUERLEIN DISPENSER HANDLE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1945 25725122171" LEW ATEHZ/EF/EZZZ E 4- 2;; 76 952% flM E2195.

Patented Mar. 14, 1956) DISPENSER HANDLE MECHANISM Carl C. Bauerlein, Glencoe, 111., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, a corporation of Illinois Application June 20, 1945, Serial No. 600,541

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a handle operated mechanism for translating rotary movement into longitudinal movement and more particularly to a rotary handle structure for depressing a plunger valve such as that of a dispenser or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism for translating rotary movement into longitudinal or reciprocatory movement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple handle structure which upon turning will depress a plunger for efiecting the opening or closing of a valve such as a valve used in a dispenser or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a handle controlled valve operated mechanism which is of a simple construction and such that it may be easily taken apart for repair or adjustment.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a handle operated structure for a dispensing mechanism which structure is substantially foolproof and yet involves means for enabling an adjustment of the same for varying the effectiveness of the handle in its operation.

In accordance with the general features of this invention there is provided a mechanism for translating turning movement into longitudinal movement for effecting operation of a plunger or the like and which mechanism comprises a handle mounted in a support for turning movement about an axis and having at the rear thereof means for translating turning movement of the handle into longitudinal movement for depressing the plunger to effect operation of a valve or the like.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of a simple means for mounting a handle On a support and which means includes a plug and socket arrangement such'that the handle may be freely turned in either direction and yet be substantially retained against displacement from the support.

Another feature of the invention relates to the recessing of the rear side of the handle for accommodating a depressing mechanism cooperating with the handle for movement upon the turning of the handle about its axis.

Other objects and features of my invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments thereof and in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the lower part of a dispenser system showing one form of my novel handle operated mechanism applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line II--II of Figure 1 showing a cam on the handle for depressing a plunger;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through a modified form of handle operated mechanism similar to the structure shown on the right hand portion of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference character It designates generally a dispenser housing including a bottom wall H, a front wall I2 and a false front wall I3 for carrying a handle mechanism 15 embracing the features of my invention.

Positioned behind the wall I2 is a valve mechanism 16 which does not per se constitute a part of this invention as the same is being covered in a co-pending patent application, Serial No. 600,540 filed June 20, 1945, now Patent No. 2,487,999.

This valve mechanism includes a reciprocatory plunger H for controlling the flow of fluid such as carbonated water from a valve inlet l8 to an inclined passageway 19 leading into a capillary area 20 between a syrup retaining cup 2! and a piston-like sleeve 22 of the dispenser mechanism.

The cup 2! is adapted to receive syrup or other liquid from a tank 23 carried above the cup on a ring 24. The sleeve 22 is normally urged upwardly against the ring 2t by a compression spring 2'5 positioned between the sleeve 22 and an outer fixed sleeve 26 suitably secured in a ring assembly 2! attached to the bottom I I of the dispenser.

Tightly but detachably mounted in the oscillatory sleeve 22 is a plastic nozzle 28 comprising an outer tube 29 and an inner tube 32 connected together by radial ribs 3 I.

The central tube 30 communicates through an orifice 32 with the bottom of the cup 2! which orifice is normally closed by the lower end of a pin 33 carried by a cup member 34 having a beveled edge 35 adapted to seat on a beveled shoulder 36 when the dispenser is in operation. A suitable screen 3! is disposed around the cup 3 3 and it is through this screen that the syrup is fed from the tank 23 into the cup 2|.

When the valve member I1 is pushed to the right (Figure l) the inlet I8 is brought into communication with the inclined passageway l9 through a port 40 and bore 4! of the plunger. The incoming fiuid under pressure overcomes the spring to force the sleeve 22, the cup 2! and the nozzle 28 downwardly. It should be noted that the cup 2| has a tight fit in the sleeve 22 but that it is movable therewith.

During the first part of this movement the pin or rod 33 will, of course, follow the cup 2i resulting in the seating of the upper cup 34 on the angular shoulder 36 thus cutting off the supply of syrup to the cup 2|. Thereafter the orifice 32 will be opened so that the predetermined charge of syrup in the cup 2| can be dispensed through the central tube of the nozzle at the same time as carbonated fluid is dispensed through the outer tube 29 from the capillary passageways 2B.

. The foregoing structure including the nozzle does not per se constitute a part of this invention, and is described merely to show the relationship of the valve mechanism thereto and the action of the handle IS on the dispenser when the handle is turned. As a matter of fact, this structure of the nozzle is being covered in a co-pending application, Serial No. 575,782, and my present invention is primarily concerned with the mechanism for controlling and effecting the operation of the valve I6. I shall now describe that mechanism.

Mounted on the concealed front wall !2 of the dispenser is a housing member 5i! in which is disposed an oscillatory member 5| having a head portion 52 for engaging the outer end of the valve member H to be oscillated. It should be noted that the valve member ll" can only be reciprocated in one direction by the handle operated mechanism and that the return movement of the member I! is eifected by the spring 53 inside of the housing of the valve 26. The opening or movement of the valve member ii to the left, in Figure 1, is limited by the inner end of the member I! contacting a shoulder 54 formed in the ring 24.

I also desire at this time to call attention to the fact that wherever sealing means is required, a suitable sealing ring is employed and in most cases the sealing ring is of a rubber flipper or flap-type as shown in the drawings.

The member 51 has on its end opposite the head 52 an extension 55 threaded at 56 into another plunger member 5? housed in a bushing 58 suitably carried by the front wall I 3 of the dispenser. the overall length of the two connected plunger members 5i and 5! may bev varied by a relative turning of the same. In other words, the degree of longitudinal movement imparted to the valve member I? may be adjusted. The head 52 of the member 5i has a threaded connection 58 with the member 5! so that the position of the head can also be adjusted by turning the same to bring it tightly against the free end of the valve member H.

The outer end of the plunger member 51 is slightly rounded at 68 so as to bear against the cam surface 6! provided on the rear side of the handle disc 52. The rear side of the handle disc 62 is recessed at 63 and it is into this recess that the rounded end 66 of the plunger member 5? projects.

The disc-like handle 62, which comprises one part of my handle assembly l5, has a manually engageable lateral projection or handle proper lid for turning the member 62 about its axis. At the axis of the member 52, there is provided a plug 65 suitably secured to the member 62 and projecting rearwardly therefrom into a socket G6 attached to the front wall l3 of the dispenser. It

This threaded connection is such that 4 should be noted that between the socket 66 and the plug 65 is a cylindrical bushing 61 attached to the front wall l3 and in which the plug is rotatably journaled.

The rear extremity of the plug 65 is shaped like a telephone plug; or in other words, is depressed at 68 for engagement with the restricted portion 69 of the plug. This restricted end of the plug socket may be slotted as at '10 so that the rear end of the socket will tightly grip the plug and hold the handle on the supporting wall in a position to be turned in either direction.

Attention is directed to the fact that the front wall l3 may be reinforced at the rear of the handle disc 62 by a plate H secured to the bushing 6'! inside of the recess 63 of the handle member.

From the foregoing it is clear that upon rotation of the handle in clockwise direction, the turned end 60 of the plunger member 51 will ride along the cam surface 6| (Figure 2). This cam surface is inclined in a clockwise direction rearwardly toward the wall 13 so that upon the clockwise movement of the handle the plunger members 5?, El and 52 will move as a unit to depress to the left the valve member ll thus opening the valve as previously described.

Movement of the valve in a counter-clockwise direction will result in the parts being restored to their original position. As noted before the valve member ll will move to the right, or in other words, to its closed position under the impelling force of the spring 53 in the valve when the handle is moved counter-clockwise to close the valve 16.

If it is so desired, the cam surface 5| (as shown in Figure 2) may be provided with a stop or abutment 15 at one end for limiting the movement of the handle in a counter-clockwise or closing direction. A stop need not be provided for the movement of the handle in the clockwise direction since such a movement will be arrested by the valve member I! contacting the shoulder 54 of the ring 24.

In Figures 3 and 4 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of mechanism for translating the turning motion of the handle into a longitudinal motion of the plunger. However, in this form the same reference numerals are employed as in the first form to designate parts that are identical or common to both forms. The principal difference resides in the construction of the rotary handle member and the driving connection between it and the plunger member 5|. In this form the handle member, as in the first form, is centrally supported by the plug 65. The rear of the handle member 85 is recessed at 86 and integrally formed or attached to the rear side of the handle member is a segment of an internal gear 81 which meshes with a pinion 88 mounted on an outer end of the plunger member'89.

This plunger 89 is secured to the plungeF5l and is journaled in the bushing 98 carried by the front wall I3 of the dispenser. The end of the plunger member 89 adjacent the pinion is provided with a worm 9| in engagement with the internal worm thread 92 in the inside of bushing 9i]. Thus upon turning of the pinion 88 the worm Si, in threaded engagement with the worm thread 92, moves the plunger member 89 and the other member 5t connected thereto longitudinally rearwardly away from the handle member 85.

The pinion 88 is purposely made of a narrower width than that of the gear segment 81 so that it may move transversely of the gear segment as it turns on the segment in response to the worm movement.

If it is so desired, the gear segment, shown in Fig. 4, may be provided with abutments or stops 95 and 96 for limiting the travel of the pinion on the segment 81.

Accordingly it is clear that in this form the series of interconnected plunger members, adapted to operate the valve member 11, are not only turned but are also moved longitudinally by the worm gearing in response to the turning movement of the handle member 85.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mechanism for depressing a valve plunger of a machine, a handle member having a plug at the axis of the handle adapted for snap-on positioning in rotatable supporting relation to the wall of the machine, means cooperating with the rear side of the handle and movable in the direction of the axis of the handle upon turning of the handle, said handle being recessed on its rear side and said means including a cam surface on the under side of said handle enclosed in the recess of the handle and a plunger at right angles to the handle and having an end engaging said surface.

2. In a mechanism for depressing a valve plunger, a socket extending rearwardly from the wall of the machine having a rear portion of restricted area defining a substantially circular locking ring, a handle member having a shaft at the axis of the handle, said shaft having a restricted end portion movable into snapon locked position in the restricted portion of said socket, said shaft being confined by said restricted end portion against lineal movement, a bushing in said socket journaling said shaft for rotation therein, and means cooperating with the rear side of the handle having a member movable in the direction of the axis of the handle upon turning of the handle, said handle being recessed on its rear side for enclosing said means.

3. In a mechanism for depressing a valve plunger of a machine, a socket extending rearwardly from the wall of the machine having a rear portion of restricted area, a handle memher having a plug at the axis of the handle, said plug having a restricted end portion movable into snap-on locked position in the restricted portion of said socket and being rotatable in said socket and means cooperating with the rear side of the handle and movable in the direction of the axis of the handle upon turning of the handle, means comprising an internal gear on the rear side of said handle, a pinion in mesh therewith and a shaft carrying said pinion and having a worm gear connection for moving said shaft in the direction of the axis of the handle for depressing the valve of the machine.

CARL C. BAUERLEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 435,489 Ferguson Sept. 2, 1890 813,921 Sheppard Feb. 27, 1906 1,055,117 Woodworth Man. 7, 1913 1,165,849 Clark Dec. 28, 1915 1,318,386 Jenkins Oct. 14, 1919 1,396,663 Phinney Nov. 8, 1921 1,566,599 Higgins Dec. 22, 1925 1,619,278 Travis Mar. 1, 1927 1,743,738 Travis Jan. 14, 1930 1,784,094 Fletcher Dec. 9, 1930 1,853,329 Austin Apr. 12, 1932 1,920,049 Arber July 25, 1933 2,172,977 Kimball Sept. 12, 1939 2,239,798 Tinnerman Apr. 29, 1941 2,286,173 Maxon June 9, 1942 2,320,360 Grey June 1, 1943 2,440,170 Duefrene Apr. 20, 1948 

